Sarasota man arrested on charges of exposing himself on Lido Beach

A day after a beachgoing family on Lido Key reported a man had exposed himself nearby, Sarasota police arrested a  29-year-old city resident on two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than 18 and four counts of indecent exposure.

Image via Sarasota PD

In a news release, the Sarasota Police Department reported a man called 911 on the afternoon of Aug. 29 to report a man on Lido Beach had exposed himself to children in his family. The responding officer spoke to family members and “through investigative means” identified a possible suspect, according to arrest documents. A car registered to that individual was recorded by a license-plate camera leaving the area shortly after the crime report had been made, the document says.

A day later, police patrolling the beach spotted the man suspected in the incident and detained him.

David Mensch was taken into custody booked into the Sarasota County Jail.

According to witness statements, there was no way the man could have accidentally exposed himself, arrest documents show. Police are seeking to hear from others who might have been on Lido Beach that afternoon in their search for potential other victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Rob Morrison at 941-263-6086.